Valve gear



Jan. 16, 1962 A. STREIT ETAL 3,016,387

VALVE GEAR Filed Oct. 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

ASTREIT A .5 TW/OROK INVENTORS A 7' TORNEVS Jan. 16, 1962 A. STREIT ETAL VALVE GEAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 3, 1958 ,4. STRE/ T ASTW/OROK IN V EN TORS A TTORNEKS United States Patent 3,016,887 VALVE GEAR Alfons Streit, Carl-Maria-von Weber Str. 45, Leverkusen,

Germany, and Alfons Stwiorok, Hauptstr. 193, Koln- Merkenich, Germany Filed Oct. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 768,516 Claims. (Cl. 123-90) This invention relates to a valve gear for an internal combustion engine.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved valve gear in which the rocker arm is pivoted on a spherical bearing element fulcrumed against a spherical surface of a fixed support member instead of on a cylindrical shaft forming a conventional rocker arm axle. The improved valve gear includes spring means interposed between adjacent portions of the valve stem structure and the coacting rocker arm structure, the spring means being effective to maintain the rocker arm in a stabilized position relative to the support member.

The universal movability of the rocker arm about its spherical fulcrum simplifies the installation of the valve gear, and furthermore provides a construction and arrangement far less expensive than a conventional valve gear mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in part sectional illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan View of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially through line III-III of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view in part similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character l'indicates a bracket structure associated with the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The bracket structure 1 provides a support for a crossbar 3 which is secured by a bolt 2. The crossbar end portions project laterally of the bracket structure to provide a bearing for two parallel rocker arms. It will be noted that the crossbar is provided on the underside of each of its projecting end portions with a downwardly opening recess 4, each recess being of semi-spherical shape. Bearing balls 5, which are preferably securely fastened to the upper surfaces of the rocker arms 6 as by welding, as indicated at 6, are seated in the semi-spherical recesses. One end of each rocker arm 6 is in engagement with a cam 7 on the camshaft 8, in a conventional manner. The other end of the rocker arm, which is adapted to engage the stem of the valve 9 to be controlled, rests against the upper end of spring 10, the lower end of the spring 10 being seated in a recess 11 of the valve spring collar 12. The spring 10 is located relative to the adjacent end of the rocker arm by an internal centering pilot formed by the free end 13 of the adjusting screw 14. The valve stem 15 is coupled to the spring collar 12 by suitably formed keys 16. The collar 12 itself is under the load of the valve spring 17.

The spring 10 exerts a stabilizing effect on the rocker arm 6. That is, the force of the spring causes the rocker arm 6 to always assume a position in which a plane including the axis of the adjusting screw 14 and the center of the ball is vertical to the axis of the camshaft 8. In the idle position, as shown in FIG. 1, the spring exerts an uplift force on the rocker arm 6 maintaining the ball 5 in the spherical recess or ball cup 4.

Lubrication of the spherical joint is done through the lubrication openings 18 arranged in the crossbar 3.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the crossbar is supported at each end thereof on bracket surfaces 20. The bridge or center section of the bracket is slightly recessed to provide a clearance 21. If the screw 2 is tightened to eliminate or diminish the clearance 21, the balls 5 may be initially preloaded.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine, a support member, a rocker arm member, one of said members having a spherical portion and the other of said members having a semi-spherical recess receiving said spherical portion whereby said rocker arm member is positioned against said support member for universal movement relative thereto, and spring biasing means interposed between a part of said rocker arm member and a part of the valve means operated thereby to stabilize said rocker arm member relative to said support member.

2. In a valve mechanism for an internal combustion engnie, a support member, a rocker arm. member, one of said members having a spherical portion and the other of said members having a semi-spherical recess receiving said spherical portion whereby said rocker arm member is positioned against said support member for universal movement relative thereto, and spring biasing means in-' terposed between a part of said rocker arm member and a part of the valve means operated thereby to stabilize said rocker arm member relative to said support member, said spring biasing means comprising a spring, pilot means on the rocker arm member positioning one end of said spring, and a recessed collar carried on said valve means positioning the other end of said spring.

3. In a valve mechanism for an internal combustion with a spherical bearing element rigidly secured thereto,

said crossbar being provided with a recess shaped to receive said bearing element whereby said rocker arm is positioned against said crossbar for universal movement relative thereto, and spring biasing means interposed between a part of said rocker arm and a part of the valve means operated thereby to stabilize said rocker arm relative to said support member.

4. In a valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine, a support bracket, a crossbar carried by said bracket, a rocker arm, said rocker arm being provided with a spherical bearing element rigidly secured thereto, said crossbar being provided with a recess shaped to receive said bearing element whereby said rocker arm is positioned against said crossbar for universal movement relative thereto, and spring biasing means interposed between a part of said rocker arm and a part of the valve means operated thereby to stabilize said rocker arm relative to said support member, said spring biasing means comprising a spring, pilot means on the rocker arm positioning one end of said spring, and a recessed collar carried on said valve means positioning the other end of said spring.

5. In a valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine, a support bracket, a crossbar carried by said support bracket, a rocker arm provided with a spherical bearing element rigidly secured thereto, said crossbar being provided with a recess to receive said bearing element whereby said rocker arm is positioned against said crossbar for universal movement relative thereto, and spring biasing means interposed between a part of said rocker arm and a part of the valve means operated thereby, said spring biasing means being efiective to mainamass? 3 tain the rocker arm in a position in which the longitudinal vertical plane thereof is maintained substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the engine camshaft.

6. In a valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine, a support bracket, a crossbar carried by said support bracket, a rocker arm provided with a spherical bearing element rigidly secured thereto, said crossbar being provided with a recess to receive said bearing element whereby said rocker arm is positioned against said crossbar for universal movement relative thereto, an adjusting screw carried by one end of said rocker arm adapted to operatively abut the engine valve means operable by said rocker arm, and a biasing means interposed between said end of the rocker arm and said valve means, said biasing means being effective to maintain said rocker arm in a position in which a plane including the axis of said adjusting screw and the center of said bearing element is maintained substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the engine camshaft.

7. In an internal combustion engine having a rotating camshaft and a poppet valve, an improved valve mechanism comprising a support member, a rocker arm member having an end portion engaging the camshaft and another end portion engaging the poppet valve, one of said members having a spherical portion and the other of said members having a semispherical recess receiving said spherical portion whereby said rocker arm member is positioned against said support member for universal movement relative thereto, and biasing means interposed between the second mentioned rocker arm end portion and the poppet valve stabilizing said rocker arm member relative to said support member.

8. In an internal combustion engine having a rotating camshaft and a poppet valve with a stem portion, an improved valve mechanism comprising a support member, a rocker arm member having an end portion engaging the camshaft and another end portion engaging the poppet valve stem, one of said members having a spherical portion and the other of said members having a semispherical recess receiving said spherical portion whereby said rocker arm member is positioned against said support member for universal movement relative thereto, and biasing means interposed between the second mentioned rocker arm end portion and the poppet valve stem stabilizing said rocker arm member relative to said support member, said biasing means comprising a spring, pilot means on the rocker arm end portion positioning one end of said spring, and a recessed collar carried on the poppet valve stem positioning the other end of said spring.

9. In an internal combustion engine having a rotating camshaft and a pair of poppet valves, each of said poppet valves having a valve stem portion integral therewith, an improved valve mechanism comprising a support member, a pair of rocker arm members, each of said rocker arm members having an end portion engaging the camshaft and an oppositely disposed end portion engaging the poppet valve stem, one of said support members and said pair of rocker arms having a spherical portion and the other of said support members and said pair of rocker arms having a semispherical recess receiving said spherical portion whereby said pair of rocker arm members are positioned against said support member for universal movement relative thereto, biasing means interposed between the second mentioned end portion of each of the rocker arms and the poppet valve stems stabilizing each of the rocker arm members relative to said support member, each of said biasing means comprising a spring, pilot means on the second mentioned end portion of each of the rocker arm members positioning one end of said spring, and a recessed collar carried on each of said poppet valve stems positioning the other end of said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,446,142 Adams Feb. 20, 1923 1,612,792 Asbury Jan. 4, 1927 1,699,657 Pagan Jan. 22, 1929 2,525,791 Good Oct. 17, 1950 2,572,968 Bachle Oct. 30, 1951 2,696,201 Bensinger Dec. 7, 1954 2,902,014 Leach Sept. 1, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 334,313 Germany Mar. 14, 1921 425,657 Italy Oct. 10, 1947 

